How to Wash Corduroy Without Crushing the Wales
Corduroy is a cut-pile cotton fabric — those signature ridges are called wales — and everything about caring for it comes down to protecting that pile. Crush it with heat or an iron and the fabric goes patchy and shiny; wash it face-out and it grabs every bit of lint in the machine. The fix is simple once you know it: turn it inside out.
Key takeaways
- Corduroy's ridges (wales) crush permanently under heat and pressure.
- Always wash inside out — it protects the pile and keeps lint off the face.
- Dry on low, then shake and smooth the pile while slightly damp.
- Never iron corduroy flat; steam it from the inside instead.
Always Wash Inside Out
Turning corduroy inside out protects the wales and keeps lint off the pile.
| Setting | Use |
|---|---|
| Prep | Turn inside out, close zips/buttons |
| Wash temp | Cold |
| Cycle | Gentle, low spin |
| Dry | Low heat, remove damp; shake and smooth the pile |
Wash with similar colors — corduroy both sheds and grabs lint.
Don't Crush the Pile
High heat and hard pressing flatten the wales permanently, leaving shiny, worn-looking patches. Dry on low, and while the fabric is still slightly damp, shake the garment and smooth the pile back into line with your hand or a soft brush.
Never Iron Flat
A hot iron pressed onto corduroy crushes the ridges. If it needs de-wrinkling, steam it from the inside or hold a steamer just off the surface — never press directly on the pile side.
Never Do This
- Don't wash face-out — the pile grabs lint and abrades.
- Don't dry on high heat — it flattens the wales into shiny patches.
- Don't press an iron onto the pile — steam instead.